Actually, it is not the most popular name for Asian girls. That would be Emily. In fact, Linda does not even break the top 10 according to this data from 2007:
” New York City Hispanic Black White Asian
Girls
1 Ashley Ashley Kayla Sarah Emily
2 Emily Emily Madison Rachel Sophia
3 Isabella Isabella Jada Ava Chloe
4 Sarah Mia Brianna Sophia Tiffany
5 Kayla Brianna Nevaeh Julia Ashley
6 Sophia Samantha Jayla Esther Jessica
7 Mia Jennifer Taylor Isabella Michelle
8 Madison Melanie Ashley Chaya Sarah
9 Brianna (tied) Angelina* Destiny Olivia Rachel
10 Samantha (tied) Kimberly* Gabrielle Emma Angela*
Nicole* ”
City Room offers up this possible explanation for the popularity of Linda being behind the curve for Asians when compared to Americans:
“One thing City Room will note. South Asian-Americans tend to have transliterated South Asian names — Amit, Sunil, Priya, Sunjay — that they use in both cultures. Whereas Korean-Americans and Chinese-Americans are more likely to have a European-rooted Western name and a separate Korean or Chinese name (which may or may not appear on official documents).
But the funny thing is that those Anglo baby names selected by Asian immigrants tend to lag the mainstream by a few decades because of when the parents tend to take their inspiration from their peers — who are people born 20 or 30 years earlier.”